EAPSI: Development of paired uranium-thorium and radiocarbon ocean ventilation records using deep-sea corals

深海珊瑚生态系统的生态和生物学研究工作有所增加，部分原因是人类造成的影响，包括捕鱼活动。由于人们越来越认识到深海珊瑚是商业和非商业鱼类的生境形成生物，它们的寿命极长，而且有可能成为气候档案，因此深海珊瑚的养护工作的重要性得到了加强。开发确定深海珊瑚寿命和生长速度的独立手段，对于评估其脆弱性和从自然和人为干扰中恢复的速度十分重要。同样重要的是建立深海珊瑚档案的高分辨率年龄模型。该项目的目的是与澳大利亚堪培拉的澳大利亚国立大学Steward Fallon博士合作，研究深海珊瑚的古生态学，方法是在深海珊瑚的蛋白质和碳酸盐骨骼中开发替代物。访问ANU提供的实验室，设备和测年方法，将创造一个机会，以扩大知识和深海珊瑚的理解。在深海珊瑚古海洋学代理测量的发展已经超出了重建海洋通风率方面的潜在承诺的范围。海洋通风的记录被用来确定海洋化学在整个地质时期的变化，帮助预测未来的气候变化。该项目将采用一种新的铀-钍定年法，结合放射性碳定年法，以记录黑珊瑚（Leiopathes sp.）和杯珊瑚（Desmophyllum sp.）的年龄和生长速度。该项目将采取多代理方法;配对U/Th，放射性碳和钕同位素测量，以重建地表，中间和深水循环模式的变化。这个NSF EAPSI奖是与澳大利亚科学院合作资助的。

The ecology and biology of deep-sea coral ecosystems has seen increased research efforts in part because of human-induced impacts, including fishing activities. The importance of conservation efforts of deep-sea corals has amplified due to increased awareness of deep-sea corals as habitat-forming organisms for commercial and noncommercial fish species, their extremely long lifespans, and their potential as a climate archive. Developing independent means of determining the life-span and growth rate of deep-sea corals is important to assess their vulnerability and recovery rates from natural and human-induced disturbances. Equally important is the development of high-resolution age models of deep-sea coral archives. This project aims to examine the paleo-ecology of deep-sea corals by developing proxies in both the proteinaceous and carbonate skeletons of deep-sea corals in collaboration with Dr. Steward Fallon at the Australia National University in Canberra, Australia. Access to the laboratory, equipment, and dating methods provided at ANU, will create an opportunity to expand knowledge and understanding of deep-sea corals.Development of paleoceanographic proxy measurements in deep-sea corals has moved beyond the range of potential promise in terms of reconstructing ocean ventilation rates. Records of ocean ventilation are used to determine how ocean chemistry has changed throughout geologic time, helping predict future climate change. This project will apply a novel uranium-thorium (U/Th) dating method paired with radiocarbon dates to develop age and growth rate records of black corals, Leiopathes sp. and cup corals, Desmophyllum sp. Pairing independent chronometers, such as U/Th dating with radiocarbon dating, allows for the reconstruction of ocean ventilation rates dating back to the Last Glacial Maximum (~20,000 years). The project will take a multiple proxy approach; pairing U/Th, radiocarbon, and neodymium isotopic measurement to reconstruct changes in surface, intermediate, and deep-water circulation patterns. This NSF EAPSI award is funded in collaboration with the Australian Academy of Science.